Blackpool businessman among by-election candidates

Robert Wynne, who was mayor in 2007/08 is among six names contesting the Highfield ward when voters go to the polls on May 6.

The businessman, who owns pubs in Blackpool including the Brew Room and the Rose and Crown, previously represented Squires Gate ward for the Liberal Democrats before stepping down ahead of the 2011 local elections.

This time round he is standing as an Independent.

Another former councillor and cabinet member Christine Wright, who represented Greenlands before losing her seat in 2019, is also standing in Highfield ward representing Labour.

Other nominees for the seat, which is vacant following the death of long standing councillor Lily Henderson in December, include Kim Knight for Reform UK which was originally founded as the Brexit Party.

Four candidates will contest a by-election for the Norbreck seat which was previously held by former council leader and former mayor Peter Callow before his death last November.

He held the seat for many years for the Conservatives with one of the highest majorities in the borough before switching to stand independently at the 2019 local elections.

The by-elections are being held on the same day as elections for the police and crime commissioner.

The full list of candidates is:

Highfield

Becky Daniels – Green Party

Bill Greene – Liberal Democrats

Kim Knight – Reform UK

Bradley Mitchell – Conservative

Christine Wright – Labour

Robert Wynne – Independent

Norbreck

Pam Haslam – Independent

Julie Jones – Labour

Simon Jowitt – Liberal Democrat

Julie Sloman – Conservative

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